Torenia plant named ‘Sunrekobuho’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Torenia  plant named ‘Sunrekobuho’, characterized by its compact and mounding to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; dark violet and light violet blue-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Torenia sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNREKOBUHO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Toreniaplant, botanically known as Torenia sp. and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Sunrekobuho’.

The new Torenia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to develop new compact and freely branchingTorenia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Torenia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted bythe Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in July, 2007 of a proprietaryselection of Torenia sp, identified as code name TP-1, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Torenia sp.identified as code name TFOEx-BW, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Torenia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan in March, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia plant by vegetative cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan sinceApril, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Toreniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Torenia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunrekobuho’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunrekobuho’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofTorenia:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding to trailing plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Dark violet and light violet blue-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Torenia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Torenia are more compact than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Torenia are more upright than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Torenia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have violet blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Torenia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Torenia are more compact than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Torenia are more upright than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Torenia have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Torenia can be compared to plants of Torenia‘Sunrenilabu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,843. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the newTorenia and ‘Sunrenilabu’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Torenia were narrower than plants of        ‘Sunrenilabu’.    -   2. Plants of the new Torenia were more upright than plants of        ‘Sunrenilabu’.    -   3. Plants of the new Torenia had thicker stems and shorter        internodes than plants of ‘Sunrenilabu’.    -   4. Plants of the new Torenia were more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Sunrenilabu’.    -   5. Plants of the new Torenia flowered earlier than plants of        ‘Sunrenilabu’.    -   6. Plants of the new Torenia and ‘Sunrenilabu’ differed in        flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Torenia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Torenia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrekobuho’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Sunrekobuho’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under culturalpractices typical for commercial Torenia production. During theproduction of the Torenia plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. andnight temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Torenia sp. ‘Sunrekobuho’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Torenia            sp, identified as code name TP-1, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Torenia            sp. identified as code name TFOEx-BW, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About three to            four weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact and mounded to trailing plant            habit; outwardly spreading; vigorous growth habit; freely            branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing            per plant, pinching enhances branching potential.        -   Plant height.—About 18.2 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 45 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About            2.2 mm. Internode length: About 3.1 cm. Aspect: Upright to            decumbent. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 2.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate to cordate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 145A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,            close to 145B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 138B; venation, close to 145B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 6.3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils;            corolla bilabiate and calyx tubular; flowers face obliquely            upright; freely flowering habit with about 112 flowers            developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three            to four weeks after planting; long flowering period;            continuously flowering from early summer to late autumn in            Japan.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four days on            the plant.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Ellipsoidal. Color: Close to 144B; towards the apex,            close to N89A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.2 cm by 2.8 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 3.7 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 1 cm.        -   Tube diameter, base.—About 3.2 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 2.6 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Bilabiate with one upper or            banner petal and one lower petal with two lateral and one            lower lobes, petals fused. Upper petal: Length: About            1.2 cm. Width: About 2.3 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:            Mucronate to truncate. Margin: Entire; undulating. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Developing, upper surface: Close to NN155B; towards the            margins, close to 86A. Developing, lower surface: Close to            92D; towards the margins, close to N88A. Fully developed,            upper surface: Close to 91D; towards the margins, close to            86A. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to 92D; towards            the margins, close to N88A. Lower petal: Length, lateral            lobes: About 1.6 cm. Width, lateral lobes: About 8.9 mm            Length, lower lobe: About 1.3 cm. Width, lower lobe: About            1.6 cm. Shape, lateral and lower lobes: Elliptic. Apex,            lateral lobes: Truncate. Apex, lower lobe: Truncate to            rounded. Margin, lateral and lower lobes: Entire. Texture,            lateral and lower lobes, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, lateral lobes: Developing, upper surface:            Darker than 86A. Developing, lower surface: Close to 86A.            Fully developed, upper surface: Close to 86A. Fully            developed, lower surface: Darker than 86A. Color, lower            lobes: Developing, upper surface: Darker than 86A; blotch,            close to 8C. Developing, lower surface: Close to N88B. Fully            developed, upper surface: More blue than 86A; towards the            throat, close to 92C; blotch, close to 6C. Fully developed,            lower surface: Close to N88B. Throat color: Close to 92C to            92D; towards the base, close to 6C; fine lines, close to            83A. Tube color: Close to 92C to 92D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five, fused;            ellipsoidal; margins winged. Calyx length: About 1.8 cm.            Calyx diameter: About 7.6 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 143C. Color, mature, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 143C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            four; two pairs of fused anthers. Filament length: About 4            mm to 11 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 3            mm by 0.6 mm. Anther color: Close to 155B. Pollen amount:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11B. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.8 cm. Stigma shape:            Elliptic. Stigma color: Close to 155B. Style color: Close to            155D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Torenia.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Torenia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Torenia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Torenia have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C.

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘Sunrekobuho’ as illustratedand described.